64 GARFIELD PARK CONSERVATORY 
lighting. The seeds yield a black dye that is converted into an indel- 
ible ink. The wood is ornamental, and of value in inlay work and 
interior finishing. 
Pereskia. The pereskias belong to the Cactaceae, and are interesting 
as being leaf bearing cacti. They are natives of tropical America. 
The collection includes 3 species, of which the most interesting is prob- 
ably the following: 
Pereskia aculeata, or BARBADOS GOOSEBERRY. The Barbados goose- 
berry is a climber with beautiful flowers, blooming in the Conservatory 
in the spring. The flowers are followed by an edible fruit about the 
size of an olive. 
Phormium tenax, or NEw ZEALAND FLAx, is a member of the Liliaceae 
or Lily family. It is a native of New Zealand, grown here for orna- 
ment; but grown there for its fiber value. 
Phyllanthus. This genus is a member of the Euphorbiaceae, or Spurge 
family. The collection includes 3 species and varieties from the 
tropics, of which the most interesting is: 
Phyllanthus Emblica, or EmsBiic. This is a small tree from tropical 
Asia, whose fruit is much used both raw and preserved. The foliage 
is handsome and makes the tree a most ornamental one. Both the 
bark and leaves are rich in tannin. 
Phytolacca dioica belongs to the Phytolacceae. This is the same 
genus to which our common pokeweed belongs. This species is a large 
evergreen tree from South America. It is of value for ornament 
and for shade, and is planted as an ornamental shade tree in California. 
Pimenta officinalis, or ALLSPICE, is a member of the Myrtaceae, a fam- 
ily with no local representatives. This tree is a native of tropical 
America, but is most cultivated in Jamaica, whence we secure most 
of the allspice of commerce. The spice is the aromatic berry, which 
is supposed to combine the flavor of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, 
whence the name. 
Piper, or PEPPER, is a member of the Piperaceae, whose only local 
representative is the Lizard’s Tail of our marshes. The family is a 
large one, comprising some 600 to 700 species, found chiefly in the 
tropics. Many species are used in their home regions to yield intoxi- 
cating or masticatory products, or are used in medicine. This col- 
lection includes 6 species, from Japan, Borneo, Peru, Africa, and the 
West Indies, all of which are of economic value in their own lands. 
Pistacia Lentiscus belongs to the Anacardiaceae, the family to which 
our sumac and poison ivy belong. This small evergreen tree is closely 
related to the species which produces pistachio nuts. It is a native 
of the Mediterranean coasts. It yields mastic gum, secured by making 
transverse incisions in the bark of the tree. The gum is much used by 
Turkish and Arab women to whiten their teeth and perfume their 
breath. The oil pressed from the seeds is used for food and for lighting. 
The flexible young twigs are used in basket making. 
Pithecolobium dulce, or MANILLA TAMARIND, or INGA, belongs to the 
